Considering Drupal for your web development? There’s a reason why big brands like Verizon, Pinterest, and Twitter choose Drupal over alternate systems.
Before we delve into the benefits of using Drupal, we should make certain that one thing is clear:
Drupal is not the same as your standard content management system.
So what is Drupal?
Drupal is a framework that can be used to build a content management system. It has a codebase and interface forms with basic functionality. Basically, Drupal is a mound of clay and it is up to you (or your developer) to shape it into what you need.
Types of websites that can be built using Drupal:
- Social Networking Websites
- News Portals
- File Storage Websites
- Blog Networks
- Video Sharing Websites
- eCommerce Stores
- Forums
- Image Sharing Websites
The sky’s the limit! If you’re willing to put the effort into shaping your Drupal website, you’ll reap a substantial list of rewards.
Benefits of Using Drupal for Website Development
1. Oodles of versatility.
In terms of coding, Drupal can prove a bit more challenging than alternative content management systems. With this challenge comes increased versatility. Design, features, layout and functionality can all be customized. Developers can create and customize extensions as needed.
2. Connectivity.
API support allows Drupal to connect with various web based technologies and social networking websites, including Twitter and Facebook. This provides your website visitors with a more engaging experience and in return, gives you features and data.
3. SEO friendly.
At this point, pretty much any Joe Schmo with a website knows that search engine optimization is crucial. Why have a website at all if nobody can find it?
One of the greatest benefits of using Drupal is that it has SEO at its core. It’s SEO-friendly URLs can be enhanced and automated using modules. Because it is so highly customizable, with the right settings and modules you can make it complement your entire SEO strategy to a T.
Of course, its important to remember that although your CMS platform can help SEO, it’s ultimately your content that determines if your website will sink or swim in search engine results.
4. Scalability.
One of the main reasons big brands choose Drupal is its ability to scale. If you feel like suddenly adding 6,000 pages to your website, no problem! You can do this without changing a thing.
5. Wide theme variety.
No website is complete without a one-of-a-kind theme. Fortunately, unique themes are readily available when you choose Drupal to build your website. Here at Present Website we have more than 400 responsive Drupal templates for you to choose from.
6. Easy to make tweaks.
Core features can be changed and deployed with ease. With Drupal you can launch a website, monitor visitor behavior, and make key changes based on your observations.
7. Price tag: FREE.
Free WiFi, free cupcakes… Free makes everything better! Drupal is both open source and free. Because it is open source software, you will not have to worry about recurring fees or licenses either.
8. Dependable security.
In a perfect world hackers wouldn’t exist, but unfortunately the digital villains are out there preying on businesses of all sizes. Being proactive about website security will help you avoid an embarrassing ‘Dear customer, your information has been comprised’ announcement.
Drupal has a reputation for reliable security and consistently makes updates to safeguard their CMS.
9. Responsive on all devices.
Gone are the days when all developers had to design for were 1024 x 768 monitors. Testing and creating new designs for each individual device turns out to be a losing battle too.
With Drupal, you don’t have to manage individual designs for each device. Using responsive design you can count on a consistent experience from desktop, to tablet, to mobile. Your website will display just as it was meant to for all audiences, no pinching or zooming needed.
10. Powerful foundation.
A high-level group of technology makes up the base of Drupal. This give businesses a strong platform to employ cutting-edge marketing strategies and new designs.
11. eCommerce-ready.
Modules come in handy yet again when adding eCommerce capability to a Drupal website.
Since Drupal Commerce was built to fully integrate with Drupal, it is a great alternative to piecing platforms together. One unified platform will ensure visitors have a seamless experience interacting with your website. When using different platforms along with their various extensions, you end up spending a considerable amount of time attempting to bring together design and function.
We’ve already mentioned improved SEO as one of the benefits of using Drupal, and the same can be said when pairing Drupal with Drupal Commerce. An integrated eCommerce and CMS platform translates to shared SEO benefits. Since content is the top reason for a higher standing in search engine rankings, it’s in your best interest to connect your online store with your CMS.
12. Enterprise-class software.
Because Drupal is an enterprise-class software, it can be easily integrated with applications like phpBB, SAP, etc.. It is completely scaleable, making Drupal a great option for both small and large organizations.
13. Extensive reporting.
Drupal’s comprehensive reporting system details sales, payment modes, customers, and more. This allows you to track and analyze individual entities.
14. Free of commitment.
Many of Drupal’s competitors feature timelines that you’ll be locked into by contract. On the flip side, open source technology completely frees individuals from commitments and restrictions.
15. Multilingual.
Maintaining a website that can be used in different regions usually comes with its share of stumbling blocks. Drupal simplifies the process and knocks down language barriers.
16. Painless content creation and collaboration.
Drupal makes it effortless to create, edit, and publish content, as well as set permissions and choose who can edit content. The authoring experience is actually a highlight of Drupal, featuring in-context and in-line editing.
Due to its large number of options, new users will sometimes feel overwhelmed upon first login. The best way to prevent this is by giving editors limited permissions. By removing unnecessary permissions, newbies will find Drupal easier to use and will be less likely to accidentally change an important setting.
17. Accelerated innovation.
Wouldn’t it be nice if your business could put new ideas into motion quickly, without running into delays and set backs? Drupal speeds things up and gives users the ability to execute at scale. You can do what you want with your website, whenever you want – no more waiting on vendors.
18. Supportive community.
When you run into a problem (which as with any website, you will) there is a community of experienced developers happy to share their knowledge. Drupal is open-source, meaning it was founded by those with the desire to give back. Thousands of developers willingly contribute, troubleshoot, update, and provide support to strengthen the platform.
To recap on Drupal’s big perks:
- SEO-Friendly
- Scalable
- Responsive
- Secure
- Versatile
- Free!
With a wide range of modules available, there’s no limit to the benefits of using Drupal for your web development.
We also know that its many capabilities can be a double-edge sword. At Present Website, we offer custom web design and development on all CMS platforms. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experienced web developers for help – we promise we don’t bite!